Fort Devens Airport, MA – December 23, 1941

On December 23, 1941, 2nd Lt. Lorenz F. Kubach was attempting to take off from Fort Devens Airport for a training flight when the engine of his airplane suddenly quit after he’d left the runway and had reached an altitude of 100 feet. Knowing he didn’t have sufficient altitude to turn around, he attempted to get the plane back on the ground before reaching the end of the runway. Going beyond the runway was not an option due to the rough terrain and a cliff that lay ahead at the edge of the field. Therefore he dove the plane to the runway hoping to ground loop it, but his instead the plane bounced on one wheel and nosed over onto its back.

The aircraft was an L-3C, ser. No. 42-459.

Although the plane was badly damaged, Lt. Kubach, and his passenger, 1st Lt. Hartzel R. Birch, received only minor injuries.

The men were assigned to the 152nd Observation Squadron based at Fort Devens.

Source: U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Report Of Aircraft Accident #42-12-23-5